London's Immigrant Youth Outpace Peers in Higher Education: A Tale of Progress and Persisting Challenges
New data reveals London CMA's unique success in immigrant post-secondary attendance, highlighting both achievements and challenges in educational equity.
London, Ontario, is showing a promising trend in immigrant education. Recent data from Statistics Canada reveals that in this mid-sized city, young immigrants and their Canadian-born peers have nearly identical rates of pursuing higher education, with immigrants slightly ahead.
Among racialized immigrants aged 20-24 in 2021, London's Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) reported a post-secondary school attendance rate of 57.7%. Even more remarkably, the post-secondary school attendance rate among racialized non-immigrants in London CMA was slightly lower, at 57.1%. Among nonimmigrants of the same age, Toronto and Guelph have the highest rates at 56% and 57%, respectively, the report states.
This places London in a unique position. The final report clarifies that in all the metropolitan areas assessed, the post-secondary school attendance rate among immigrants is higher than that of non-immigrants, with Guelph being the exception, where the rates are almost identical (56.0% for immigrants and 56.6% for non-immigrants). While the exact reasons for this trend in London are not specified in the data, possible contributing factors include community efforts to support immigrant families and their children. London has implemented a Newcomer Strategy to attract, integrate, and retain immigrants. This focused approach, combined with a more affordable cost of living compared to larger cities like Toronto, may create an environment where immigrant youth can thrive academically.
Organizations like the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre and LUSO Community Services offer crucial assistance to immigrant families, from language training to community connection programs. The YMCA of Southwestern Ontario runs programs specifically designed to help newcomers transition into the community, which may indirectly support educational aspirations.
However, the data reveals variability among different racialised populations, indicating that while some groups have high attendance rates, others face challenges that may require further investigation. The report highlights that "Immigrant Filipinos (with 36%) and West Asians (with 39%) report the lowest post-secondary school attendance rates, though the rates for non-immigrants are significantly higher at 60% for Filipinos and 73% for West Asians."
* Reporting likely due to few Japanese immigrants aged 20-24 in London CMA during 2021 Census
Source: Statistics Canada. Table 98-10-0433-01 School attendance by visible minority and immigrant status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts
These disparities underscore the work still to be done. The West Asian population, in particular, shows a stark contrast: 73.3% of non-immigrants attend post-secondary institutions, compared to just 39.1% of immigrants.
London's success, particularly in achieving higher post-secondary attendance rates for immigrants than non-immigrants, offers valuable lessons. It demonstrates what can be achieved when a community creates a supportive environment for immigrant families. The city's approach fosters conditions where immigrant youth can envision and pursue higher education, even surpassing their Canadian-born peers in some cases.
As London continues to lead the way in immigrant youth education, its story is far from over. The challenges that remain point to areas for future focus and improvement. In London's neighbourhoods and community centres, the next chapter in immigrant education is being written—and it's one that all communities would do well to study closely.
Read the full report here.
Note: This blog post has been updated on 2024-09-20 to reflect the accurate data from the final report. An earlier version contained inaccuracies due to the use of a draft version of the report. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.